Adjustable storage rack

ABSTRACT

AN ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK WHEREIN HORIZONTAL SUPPORT RAILS ADJUSTABLE INTERCONNECT HOLLOW, VERTICAL COLUMNS, EACH COLUMN BEING SUBTANTIALLY M-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION. BRACKETS SECURED TO THE ENDS OF THE SUPPORT RAILS EACH PRESENT TEETH WHICH ENGAGE A VERTICAL ROW OF APERATURES CENTRALLY FORMED IN THE FRONT WALL OF THE COLUMN WITH THE BRACKET EMBRACING A SIDE WALL OF THE COLUMN AND THE PORTION OF THE FRONT WALL BETWEEN THIS SIDE WALL AND THE ROW OF APERATURES, THIS PORTION OF THE FRONT WALL BEING AT AN ACUTE ANGLE TO THE ADJACENT SIDE WALL.

P 20, 1971 D. CLEMENTS 3,606,027

ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK Filed Oct. 28, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IIIIIIIIII...)

FIG. 3

INVENTOR. DENIS CLEMENT S @A f'aka/J ATTORN EYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 28, 1968 INVENTOR. DENIS CLEMENTS 5 ATIORNEYS United States Patent Office 3,606,027 Patented Sept. 20, 1971 3,606,027 ADJUSTABLE STORAGE RACK Denis Clements, Port Credit, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Westeel-Rosco Limited, Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Oct. 28, 1968, Ser. No. 771,198 Claims priority, application Great Britain, May 14, 1968, 22,945 6 8 Int. Cl. A47f /10 US. Cl. 211-176 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An adjustable storage rack wherein horizontal support rails adjustably interconnect hollow, vertical columns, each column being substantially M-shaped in cross-section. Brackets secured to the ends of the support rails each present teeth which engage a vertical row of apertures centrally formed in the front wall of the column with the bracket embracing a side wall of the column and the portion of the front wall between this side wall and the row of apertures, this portion of the front wall being at an acute angle to the adjacent side wall.

This invention relates to an adjustable storage rack Which is intended primarily for industrial and commercial use. Racks of this type, each of which comprises a plurality of spaced, vertical columns and a plurality of horizontal support rails adjustable connected to the columns in a manner such that their positions can readily be altered to suit the particular requirements of different users and also the varying requirements of each individual user, have hitherto been extensively used but these hitherto used arrangements suffer from various disadvantages which it is a primary object of the .present invention to overcome or mitigate.

In many of these hitherto used arrangements the vertical columns, which are generally of hollow construction, each consist of opposed, parallel side walls interconnected by a planar front wall disposed substantially at right angles to the side walls, the columns being subject to considerable damage caused by vehicles colliding with the corners of the columns between the front and side walls thereof. The risk of such damage occurring is increased where the racks are used to store pallets on which the goods being stored are stacked, the loaded pallets being placed on and removed from the racks using fork lift trucks which must manoeuvre and turn in close proximity to the columns and are therefore particularly liable to damage the columns in the manner referred to above.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a storage rack, the form of the columns of which is such that the columns are less likely, than the above described hitherto used form of columns, to be damaged when, for example, fork lift trucks collide therewith.

The horizontal support rails have generally been connected to the vertical columns by the engagement of appropriately formed means presented by the ends of the rails with vertical rows of apertures formed in the columns and it is a further object of the invention to provide a storage rack wherein the vertical columns each have a lesser number of vertical rows of apertures formed therein than has been required in many of the hitherto proposed arrangements, such as the arrangements disclosed in US. Pats. Nos. 2,937,767 to Butler et al. and 3,151,745 to Reilly, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the rack but without reducing the rigidity of the assembled rack or the ease with which the rack may be assembled and dismantled.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a storage rack in which the load which is transferred from the support rails to the associated vertical columns is applied to each column at a position which is closer to the neutral axis of the column, thereby substantially reducing intermediate bending in the column, than has been the case in the majority of the hitherto pro osed arrangements in Which, as for example in U.S. Pat. No. 3,278,043 to Kimpton, the loading on each column is applied to the column at a peripheral position which is inevitably spaced a considerable distance from the neutral axis of the column.

An adjustable storage rack according to the present invention comprises the combination of a hollow column, a connection bracket and a support rail. The column includes opposed side walls and a front wall interconnecting the side walls and formed with a plurality of vertically aligned aperture means. The connection bracket comprises a first portion, a second portion and lug means projecting from a rearward edge of the second portion, the first and second portions being adapted, respectively, to embrace one of the side walls of the column and an adjacent portion of the front wall of the column, which adjacent portion of the front wall of the column is disposed at an acute angle to said one of the side walls of the column, with the lug means in engagement, rearwardly of the interconnection between the front wall and said one of the side walls of the column, with the aperture means in the front Wall of the column, and the support rail having an end which is secured to said first portion of the bracket. Said second portion of the bracket is disposed at an acute angle relative to said first portion of the bracket, which acute angle is substantially equal to the acute angle between said one of the side walls of the column and said adjacent portion of the front wall of the column.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood and more readily carried into effect the same will now, by way of example, be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portion of a storage rack according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the view showing one end of one support rail operatively connected to a column and one end of a further support rail in a condition prior to connection of the column;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 22 of FIG. 1, but drawn to an enlarged scale;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of FIG. 1, drawn to the same enlarged scale as FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view, drawn to a reduced scale, of the storage rack a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1.

The storage rack comprises a plurality of spaced, substantially vertical hollow columns 10 only one of which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, the columns 10 being, for example disposed in spaced pairs with the columns 10 of each pair thereof interconnected by cross beams 10 and with the pairs of columns 10 spaced from one another in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane containing the columns 10 of each pair thereof.

A plurality of substantially horizontal support rails 11, two of which are shown in FIG. 1, adjustably interconnect adjacent columns of the adjacent pairs thereof.

With particular reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings, each column 10 comprises opposed, parallel side walls 12, a front wall which is denoted generally by the reference numeral 13 and which interconnects the side walls 12, and rear flanges 14 which project inwardly from the side walls 12 and which are disposed at the back of the column 10. The front wall 13 consists of a centrally disposed, longitudinally extending portion 15 which is in a plane substantially at right angles to the planes of the side walls, 12 and two side portions 16 which are separated by the centrally disposed portion 15 and which are each disposed at an acute angle to the adjacent one of the side Walls 12 of the column 10, the acute angle which is indicated by the reference on in FIGS. 2 and 3 being approximately of the order of 60. The hollow column is thus substantially M-shaped in cross-section.

A plurality of equidistantly spaced, vertically aligned aperture means, constituted by the apertures 17, is formed in the centrally disposed portion of the front wall 13.

The support rails 11 are each of box form in crosssection and each end thereof is secured, as by welding 18, to a first portion 19 of a connection bracket which is denoted generally by the reference numeral each bracket 20 comprising the first portion 19, a second portion 21 and lug means denoted generally by the reference numeral 22. The second portion 21 of each bracket 20 is disposed, relative to the first portion 19 thereof, at an acute angle which is substantially equal to the acute angle at which each of the side portions 16 of the front wall 13 of the column 10 is disposed relative to the adja cent side wall 12, the acute angle between the second portion 21 and the first portion 19 of each bracket 20 therefore being approximately of the order of 60. The first and second portions 19, 21, respectively, of each bracket 20 are thus adapted to embrace, respectively, one of the side walls 12 of the column 10 and the adjacent side portion 16 of the front wall 13 of the column 10, as is shown in relation to the left-hand bracket 20 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The lug means 22 project from the longitudinal, rearward edge of the second portion 21 of each bracket 20 remote from the first portion 19 thereof and comprises, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, a plurality of teeth each of which comprises a first limb 23 projecting from the second portion 21 of the bracket and a second limb 24 disposed substantially at right angles to the first limb 23, the second limb 24 being downwardly directed from the first limb 23 and being disposed in spaced relation to the second portion 21 of the bracket. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawing each bracket 20 comprises three such teeth 22 but it is to be understood that in alternative embodiments of the invention each bracket 20 may comprise a greater or lesser number of teeth 22 and there may, in fact, be only one tooth 22 presented by each bracket 20.

The lowermost end of the second limb 24 of each tooth 22 is chamfered, as shown at 25, on the side thereof adjacent to the second portion 21 of the bracket 20 thereby to facilitate engagement of the tooth 22 with the appropriate aperture 17, as is hereinafter described in detail.

As is most clearly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the teeth 22 of each bracket 20 are preferably disposed in a plane parallel to the plane containing the first portion 19 of the bracket, the teeth 22 having a width which is not greater than half the width of the apertures 17 in the centrally disposed portion 15 of the front wall 13 of the column.

The support rails 11 are each adjustably connected to the column 10 by being raised to the deseired one of the height settings at which the teeth 22 are in horizontal alignment with apertures 17 of the plurality thereof, the teeth 22 being equidistantly spaced apart by a distance which is equal to the distance by which the apertures 17 are spaced apart. The support rail 11 is then moved horizontally until the teeth 22 contact one or other of the side portions 16 of the front wall 13 of the column 10. Continued horizontal movement of the rail 11 results in the teeth 22 sliding across the appropriate side portion 16 and being guided towards the above-mentioned apertures 17 through which the teeth 22 then pass. Finally, the rail 11 is lowered thus causing the space between the second limb 24 of each tooth 22 and the adjacent edge of the second portion 21 of the bracket to embrace the part of the centrally disposed portion 15 of the front wall 13 of the column 10 adjacent to the lower edge of the appropriate aperture 17, the chamfering 25 serving to facilitate this engagement of the teeth 22 with the aperture 17 during the above-mentioned lowering of the support rail 11. As will be understood, this engagement of the teeth 22 with the apertures 17 is, of course, rearward of the interconnections between the side portions 16 of the front wall 13 and the side walls 12 of the column 10.

To disconnect each support rail 11 from the column 10, as, for example, when it is desired to dismantle the storage rack or to vary the height setting of the support rail 11, the above described sequence of operations is performed in reverse.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings when the rack is in use the upper part of the second portion 21 of each bracket 20 and the lower part of the first portion 19 of each bracket 20 are urged into tight frictional engagement with the adjacent part of the appropriate side portion 16 of the front wall 13 and with the adjacent part of the appropriate side wall 12 of the column 10 thereby ensuring rigidity of the storage rack.

In view of the M-shaped cross-sectional form of the column 10, the loading which is transferred from each bracket 20 to the column 10 to which it is connected, this loading being applied in the plane of the apertures 17, is considerably closer to the longitudinal neutral axis of the column 10 than in the hitherto used arrangements in which the loading is applied to the column at a peripheral position, the loading, as is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 wherein the longitudinal neutral axis of the column 10 is indicated by the reference numeral 26, being preferably substantially coincident with the axis 26 thereby substantially to eliminate intermediate bending in the column.

It is believed that in view of the acute angle at which the side portions 16 of the front wall 13 of the column 10 are disposed relative to the adjacent side walls 12 less damage will be sustained by the column from vehicles, such as fork lift trucks, colliding with the corners 27 of the columns than is the case with the hitherto used arrangements wherein the front wall of the column adjacent to the side walls thereof is at right angles to the side walls.

What is claimed is:

1. In an adjustable storage rack, the combination of a hollow column comprising opposed side walls and a front wall interconnecting the side walls and formed with a plurality of vertically aligned aperture means, the front wall comprising a portion connected to and extending rearwardly from each of the side walls so that said portions converge in a rearward direction, the converging portions being interconnnected at their rearward edges near the neutal axis of the column, and the aperture means being formed in the front wall at the interconnection between said converging portions thereof, a connection bracket comprising a first portion, a second portion and lug means projecting from a rearward edge of the second portion, the first and second portions being adapted, respectively, to embrace one of the side walls of the column and one of the converging portions of the front wall of the column, with the lug means in engagement with said aperture means rearwardly of the interconnection between the front wall and said one of the side walls of the column and near the neutral axis of the column so that the lug means intersects the front wall of the column, a support rail having an end which is secured to said first portion of the bracket, said second portion of the bracket being disposed at an acute angle relative to said first portion of the bracket, which acute angle is substantially equal to the acute angle between said one of the side walls of the column and said one converging portion of the front wall of the column.

2. A storage rack as defined in claim 1 wherein the acute angles at which said converging portions of the front wall of the column are disposed relative to said side walls of the column and at which said second portion of the bracket is disposed relative to said first portion of the bracket are equal and are each substantially 60.

3. A storage rack as defined in claim 1 wherein the hollow column includes rear flanges which project inwardly from the side walls of the column.

4. A storage rack as defined in claim 1 wherein the lug means comprises at least one tooth having a first limb projecting from the second portion of the bracket and a second limb disposed substantially at right angles to the first limb, the second limb being downwardly directed from the first limb and being disposed in spaced relation to the second portion of the bracket.

5. A storage rack as defined in claim 4 wherein the lowermost end of the second limb of the tooth is chamfered on the side thereof adjacent to the second portion of the bracket thereby to facilitate engagement of the tooth with the aperture means.

6. A storage rack as defined in claim 1 wherein the aperture means formed in the front Wall of the column are substantially coincident with the longitudinal neutral axis of the column thereby substantially to eliminate intermediate bending in the column.

7. An adjustable storage rack comprising a plurality of spaced, substantially vertical columns and a plurality of substantially horizontal support rails adjustably connected to the columns; wherein each column is hollow and substantially M-shaped in cross-section and comprises opposed parallel side walls and a front wall, the front wall of the column consisting of a centrally disposed, longitudinally extending portion which is in a plane substantially at right angles to the planes of the side walls of the column, and two converging side portions which are separated by said centrally disposed portion and which are connected to, and are each disposed at an acute angle relative to the adjacent one of the side walls of the column, and the centrally disposed portion of the front wall of the column being formed with a plurality of equidistantly spaced, vertically aligned apertures 'which are substantially coincident with the longitudinal neutral axis of the column; and wherein a connection bracket comprising a first portion and a second portion disposed at an acute angle to said first portion of the bracket is mounted on each end of each support rail by securement of said first portion to said end, the second portion of the bracket having a longitudinal, rearward edge presenting a plurality of equidistantly spaced, vertically aligned teeth which are in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the first portion of the bracket and which have a width not greater than half the width of the apertures in the centrally disposed portion of the front wall of the column; the acute angle at which said second portion of each bracket is disposed relative to said first portion thereof being substantially equal to the acute angle at which each said side portion of the front wall of the column is disposed relative to the adjacent side wall thereof, the teeth presented by the second portion of the bracket being in engagement, rearwardly of the interconnections between the front wall and the side Walls of the column, with selected ones of the apertures in the centrally disposed portion of the front wall of the column so as to intersect the plane of said centrally disposed portion, and the first and second portions, respectively, of the bracket embracing one of the side walls and the adjacent side portion of the front wall of the column whereby, when the suppport rail on which the bracket is mounted is under load, the upper part of the second portion and the lower part of the first portion of the bracket are urged into tight frictional engagement with, respectively, the adjacent part of said adjacent side portion of the front wall and with the adjacent part of said one of the side walls of the column to ensure rigidity of the storage rack.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,151,745 10/1964 Reilly 2l1l48 3,194,408 7/1965 Kimpton 2l1l77 3,278,043 10/1966 Kimpton 21 ll48 RAMON S. BRITTS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 21l-148, 177 

